**Chapter 6: Awakening**
The darkness clung to Shen like a second skin as the nightmare played out before him once more.
*"Ah... Rin..."* His own voice sounded distant, muffled by the suffocating weight of guilt.
A figure materialized from the shadows—pale, ethereal, her eyes burning with betrayal.
*"Shen!"* Rin's voice cut through him like a blade. *"Why didn't you save me?"*
*"S-Sorry, sister! I didn't expect—"*
*"You don't deserve to live in this world..."* Her whisper twisted into something venomous. *"Die... just die..."*
Shen's eyes flew open.
Cold sweat drenched his body, his heart hammering against his ribs as if trying to escape. The remnants of the dream clung to him, its fingers digging into his consciousness.
*"Whoa... what kind of nightmare was that...?"*
His vision swam, the world tilting as he struggled to remember where he was.
*"Where... am I...?"*
Then—clarity.
The cursed energy that had coiled around him shattered like glass. Kenya's blade, once aimed at his throat, was violently deflected. And before anyone could react—
*Thud.*
Shen crumpled to the ground.
*"Shen!"* Kenya's voice reached him from somewhere far away. *"Why did you—"*
Darkness swallowed him whole.
---
### **The Aftermath**
The sterile scent of antiseptic stung Shen's nose as consciousness slowly returned. White walls. The faint beep of machinery. A hospital?
*"You're at headquarters."*
Kenya's voice.
*"Commander! Shen's awake!"* Eliz's shout was followed by hurried footsteps.
Ruke's face appeared above him, eyes wide. *"What?! You actually woke up?"*
Shen blinked, disoriented. *"Who... me? Why is everyone... staring at me like that?"*
Eliz crossed her arms. *"You *destroyed* our headquarters."*
*"What?!"* Shen bolted upright—or tried to, before a sharp pain lanced through his skull. *"What the hell did I do?!"*
A fist connected with his head before he could process anything else.
*"GYAH—! What was that for, Commander?!"*
The Commander loomed over him, expression unreadable.
*"Why,"* he began, voice dangerously low, *"did you go and take that sword?"*
Shen swallowed hard. *"S-Sorry, Commander..."*
A beat of silence. Then—
*"No problem."* The Commander stepped back. *"Just don't do it again."*
*'Yes! I escaped punishment!'* Shen cheered internally.
*"One more thing."* The Commander's voice froze him in place. *"After you recover, you're cleaning up everything you destroyed."*
*"Oh, COME ON—!"*
---
### **A New Power Awakens**
Hours later, Shen found himself sweeping rubble under the setting sun, grumbling under his breath.
*"I never thought being cursed would end with me mopping floors..."*
Just as he tossed aside another chunk of debris, the Commander's voice rang out.
*"Shen! Get over here!"*
*"Y-Yes, Commander!"* Shen scrambled forward, dusting himself off. *"I finished cleaning!"*
*"Good."* The Commander crossed his arms. *"Now we can begin your training."*
Shen's eyes lit up. *"Yes! Finally, I can learn that code-breaking energy—"*
*"Who said anything about that?"*
*"Then... what?"*
The Commander's gaze sharpened. *"During your fight, I noticed something. Every time you wield that sword, your power surges beyond normal limits."*
Kenya perked up. *"Wait, wait! Then if Shen does it again, I want to try too!"*
Eliz frowned. *"But he *can't* take it. The cursed energy surrounding him is too unstable. What do we do?"*
The Commander's next words sent a chill down Shen's spine.
*"If that happens again..."* His hand rested on the hilt of his blade. *"...I'll kill him myself."*
*"WHAT?!"*
Before anyone could react, Shen lunged for the twin cursed blades—
---
### **The Darkness Responds**
A pulse of energy.
The world darkened, shadows writhing like living things as an eerie glow emanated from the swords.
*"Oh no!"* Kenya stumbled back. *"Shen failed!"*
But the Commander's eyes narrowed. *"No. Look."*
The inky darkness shifted, twisting—until it bled into a brilliant, sapphire light.
And there, standing at its center, was Shen.
The blades hummed in his grasp, their power coursing through him like a storm. A grin split his face.
*"This... this is amazing!"*
Dark energy wreathed his body, yet his eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
*"I... did it!"*
**To Be Continued...**